D-Day, June 6th 1944. Operation Neptune, the D-Day landings, saw thousands of Allied soldiers land on five beaches that are now forever engraved in military history: Gold, Juno, Sword, Omaha and Utah. By the end of this day of days, a bridgehead has been carved out of occupied France and the Atlantic wall breached.
It was part of the Allied invasion of Normandy, Operation Overlord, and it marked the beginning of the end of the Nazi domination of Western Europe. Less than a year later the Third Reich was a thing of the past, Hitler was dead and Europe could begin rebuilding.
Though more than 70 years have passed since those world-changing days, the beaches have not lost their significance, Normandy is now a favorite destination of those interested in the epic landings. Especially on the big years, like the 70th commemoration, Normandy is filled to the brim with tourists, military vehicles, re-enactors, dignitaries but, sadly, few veterans. It
It will not be long now before none of the veterans will be able to go to Normandy and only the memorials will be there to tell us what happened.
In this very special drone footage from 2014, the 70th commemoration of D-Day, you will see Omaha beach, Batterie de Longues and Point du Hoc in a way you’ve not seen before.